| Can you name the one piece of equipment | | | | So which golf ball is right for you? |
| that you will play with on every shot of | | | | Use the chart below as a general guide. |
| your round? Yes, your golf ball. Like | | | | High Handicapper (19+) |
| all equipment, technology has taken over | | | | High distance |
| and we are now presented with an | | | | Low spin |
| overwhelming number of choices. A common | | | | 2-piece ball with Surlyn cover |
| mistake is to pick your golf ball based | | | | Mid Handicapper (8 - 19) |
| on price (either expensive or cheap) or | | | | Control |
| because your favorite PGA player | | | | Mid Spin |
| endorses it. Below I will outline a | | | | 3-piece ball with Surlyn cover |
| basic guide for choosing the right golf | | | | Low Handicapper (Under 8) |
| ball for your game. | | | | Control or Balata |
| The anatomy of a golf ball: | | | | High spin |
| 1. Inner construction: 2 piece, 3 piece, | | | | Multi-layer ball |
| and multi-layer. The type of | | | | Beginners should look for an inexpensive |
| construction affects the distance, | | | | distance ball with a softer feel (spin |
| accuracy, and amount of spin. | | | | and accuracy are not as important). If |
| 2. The core: A harder core will produce | | | | you are a mid to low handicapper you |
| a longer shot. This hardness gives the | | | | should be looking for a 3 to 4 piece |
| ball additional roll but reduces the | | | | ball with a high spin rate and accuracy. |
| amount of spin you can put on the ball. | | | | Distance balls start below $10 a dozen, |
| 3. Compression: 90 compression balls | | | | while you should expect to pay between |
| feel softer than 100 compression balls. | | | | $40 and $50 dollars for pro level balls. |
| The actual difference in distance is | | | | Use the above guide as a starting point. |
| minimal. | | | | If possible, try out several different |
| 4. The dimple pattern: The dimple | | | | balls. See if your club shop or retail |
| pattern does not affect the spin of the | | | | store has demo balls that you can hit. |
| ball. It affects the aerodynamics of the | | | | Once you have factored in the above |
| ball. When the dimple pattern and inner | | | | variables, there is only one question |
| construction are matched, manufacturers | | | | left. Does it feel right to you? If it |
| can optimize trajectory for control and | | | | does, then play it until those variables |
| distance. | | | | change. Good luck. |